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Study: 15 percent of US youth out of school, work

Almost 6 million of those aged 16 to 24 are missing out on a window to build skills or use their knowledge acquired in college

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Oct 22, 2013

Almost 6 million young people are neither in school nor working, according to a study released Monday.

That's almost 15 percent of those aged 16 to 24 who have neither desk nor job, according to The Opportunity Nation coalition, which wrote the report.

Other studies have shown that idle young adults are missing out on a window to build skills they will need later in life or use the knowledge they acquired in college. Without those experiences, they are less likely to command higher salaries and more likely to be an economic drain on their communities.

"This is not a group that we can write off. They just need a chance," said Mark Edwards, executive director of the coalition of businesses, advocacy groups, policy experts and nonprofit organizations dedicated to increasing economic mobility. "The tendency is to see them as lost souls and see them as unsavable. They are not."

But changing the dynamic is not going to be easy.

The coalition also finds that 49 states have seen an increase in the number of families living in poverty and 45 states have seen household median incomes fall in the last year. The dour report underscores the challenges young adults face now and foretell challenges they are likely to face as they get older.

A young person's community is often closely tied to his or her success. The Opportunity Nation report tracked 16 factors — Internet access, college graduation rates, income inequality and public safety among them — and identified states that were doing well for its young people.

Topping the list of supportive states are Vermont, Minnesota and North Dakota. At the bottom? Nevada, Mississippi and New Mexico.

"Their destiny is too often determined by their ZIP code," said Charlie Mangiardi, who works with Year Up, a nonprofit that trains young adults for careers and helps them find jobs.

"We have the supply. We don't have a lack of young people who need this opportunity," Mangiardi added.

Just look at some of the nation's largest cities. Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Riverside, Calif., all have more than 100,000 idle youth, the Opportunity Nation report found.

"Often times they lack the social capital in life," Mangiardi said. "There's a whole pool of talent that is motivated, loyal and hardworking." They just can't get through an employer's door, he added.

That's why Year Up spends a year working with high school graduates to teach them career skills such as computer programming or equipment repair they can use when the program ends. It also includes life coaching so they can learn skills such as time management. More than 4,500 young adults from urban areas have completed the program and 84 percent of them have found work.

But it's a far tougher time for other young people.

In Mississippi and West Virginia, 1 in 5 young people are idle — higher than their older neighbors. Mississippi has an overall unemployment rate of 8 percent, while West Virginia posts about 7 percent. Like most states, they saw their unemployment rate fall since 2011, but researchers caution that shift could come from fewer residents looking for work and from more who had simply given up their search for jobs.

And it's not as though the challenges emerge from nowhere. Quality early childhood programs help students from poor families overcome societal hurdles, and on-time high school graduation rates often follow quality schools — other factors Opportunity Nation examined in its report.

"A lot of times we don't want to look at data because we don't want to be depressed," said Rob Denson, president of Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa.

But it's an uncomfortable reality that needs to be addressed, he said.

Using previous years' reports from Opportunity Nation, Denson helped rally community organizations in his city to develop a pilot program to help students as young as 14 find summer work.

"When we got the index, it really allowed us to use it as a rallying point for all of the community-based organizations we work with to say, 'Look, this is what the world sees when they look at Iowa,'" he said.

Starting next summer, Des Moines students will be placed in paying jobs, part of a citywide collaboration to help its urban communities. It will help older adults, as well, because crime rates are expected to fall, he said.

"If they're not in school or at work," Denson said, "they're not usually doing something positive."

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coasterfan

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 10:22am

If anything, Contango, it's the legacy of the Bush Recession (when millions of jobs were lost), and the direct result of several subsequent years of idiotic Republican economic policies which slowed (and continue to slow) the recovery, and Republicans refusal to support Obama's jobs initiatives.

Yeah, I know, Contango. You don't believe any of those things happened. In your alternate universe, we didn't have 11% unemployment in late 2008 and weren't losing hundreds of thousands of jobs each MONTH during the tail end of Bush's 2nd term.

Contango

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 10:35am

Re: "support Obama's jobs initiatives."

Who can forget the Comedian-in-Chief's hilarious joke in regards to the Stimulus?

So he should be given another trillion or more and maybe get it right this time?

Where’s the capital gonna come from; China, the Fed. Resv.?

The man is all rhetoric all the time and you keep eating his ideological feces.

Dr. Information

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:13am

Still blaming Bush, but not blaming Obama for his failed policies. Its 5 years later, when will Obama be to blame in your fairy tale world.

mikesee

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 6:23pm

Like that comment Dr info

anthras

Sat, 10/26/2013 - 10:39am

Coasterfan if your theory is correct that we are still in a dismal state of affairs because of Bush then a person might have to conclude that at the end of Bush 41 the economy started an up swing prior to his leaving office ergo then the good economy of the Clinton era was a result of Bush 41 policies. Also you have contended that the Republican House is responsible for Obama not being able to do better then maybe it was the Democratic Congress in the last two years of the Bush administration that was responsible for the problems then and that would also mean it was the Republican congress that aided Clinton.

Dr. Information

Sun, 10/27/2013 - 9:50am

well put…..coaster owned again.

Contango

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 10:11am

OOPS!

From this morning:

"September saw the U.S. economy add just 148,000 jobs, significantly worse than expected,"

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. The responsibility to get a job rests on the shoulders of those unemployed.

I never had a problem getting a job. My kids never had a problem getting a job. Might not be the perfect job but they were jobs.

Our society expects the perfect job provided to them. It's not just going to happen.

It's called work. It takes work to find work.

coasterfan

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 10:34am

Classic conservative viewpoint: all unemployed/poor people are "lazy" and simply don't want to work. This ignores the math: there are currently 3 unemployed people for every 1 job opening in America.

I'm glad your kids found jobs, but a couple of kids isn't exactly a large sampling of the population, is it? My son graduated with a computer programming degree 5 years ago, and (in a field with relatively high demand) it took him nearly 2 years to find a job in his field. And that's what this article is about. Didn't you read it?!?!?!?!

There are some who are lazy and scam the system, but they aren't leading an easy life, subsisting on a couple hundred $ a week. Far more WANT to find a job - any job - but can't.

The Bizness

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 10:50am

it is amazing that when you put that gaining jobs is better than losing jobs the others on this bored simply say it is not enough.

Many people who work part time jobs, work more than one part time job.

Contango

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 10:59am

Re: "work more than one part time job."

Unfortunately the sum of the parts is not greater than the whole.

Yes the past is important, but the present is where we all live.

Pro-growth economic policies are NOT this POTUS' forte.

BTW: Among all the rest of the rhetoric, wasn't the ACA sold as a jobs program?

The Bizness

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:10am

As you have stated we live in the present, which is why the economic recovery is slower now. We live in a global economy now, where we have to compete with the entire world to regain manufacturing jobs.

The ACA was not sold as a jobs program, rather as a way of keeping healthcare costs in control and getting as many peoples as possible insured. However, under the program there will need to be many more doctors.

Contango

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:26am

Re: "regain manufacturing jobs."

Due to rising transportation and overseas labor costs, mfging jobs ARE returning.

However, increasingly more are automated.

10-20 yrs. ago what use to take 200 factory workers, now takes 20 using robots and computerized systems.

Check it out: As a percentage of GDP, mfging hasn't chanced appreciably for decades. Now it’s must more value-added production.

I worked in factories over the summers helping to put myself through school. IMO, most that argue for more factory jobs never worked in one.

deertracker

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:25am

Wow, he can actually remember that far back!!!!!

The Bizness

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:34am

I know they ARE returning, I am simply stating that we are competing with an entire world now.

I also am well versed on efficiency and automation.

I guess I don't understand what you want any president to do to get us out of this "McJobs" program you are talking about. Do you think that this is simply a cultural fight, where kids need to learn the value of a good work ethic and not just rely on a circle of relying on assistance from both the government and charities?

Contango

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:44am

Re: "I guess I don't understand what you want any president to do to get us out of this "McJobs" program you are talking about."

For one, dust off and debate "The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform" (Simpson-Bowles) which Pres. Obama commissioned and THEN ignored.

Found within: Recommendations for lowering the corp. tax rates and broadening the base.

The Bizness

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:52am

Pres. Obama didn't ignore that...rather the republicans decided they didn't want to go along with any increase in revenue of any sort.

Regardless, too much political gamesmanship and not enough fiscal common sense.

In the meantime, I'm positioning (as best as possible) for the next inevitable financial crisis.

"When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers." - Kenyan proverb

deertracker

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 3:04pm

You'll be okay! You got bailed out the last time!

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 1:00pm

Coaster,

My son graduated with a degree in computer programming and had three job offers to chose from when he graduated. What did he do different from your son? Maybe my son found internships in college on his own and didn't expect someone else to do the work for him. Maybe he was willing to relocate and willing to start out at the bottom and work his way up.

Those who want to work can find work. This article is about those who expect someone else to hand them something for nothing.

deertracker

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:26am

Well, if sprinkles has never had a problem, there must not be a problem?

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 1:04pm

deer,

There is not a problem if you believe it's the individual's responsibility to educate themselves and find work.

It's only a problem for those who expect someone else to provide for them.

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 1:10pm

Spent some time in North Carolina during the last month. The area know as the research triangle is booming. They need laborers to build buildings and homes. They need teachers, nurses and a multitude of other educated individuals to fill the ever growing surge in population.

Just a suggestion for those who can't find work.

What are your suggestions Deer ? Wait for the government to take care of you.

deertracker

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 1:19pm

No, I would suggest one do their research and move there if it is possible for them. I know you think everything is "cut and dry" but you have to know that is not real.

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 1:29pm

deer,

What's cut and dry is that it's each individual's responsibility to use the resources available to educate themselves and find work.

That's real.

Contango

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 3:10pm

Re: "use the resources available to educate themselves and find work."

To paraphrase Tommy Lasorda:

There are those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.

The spoiled little liberals whine and cry and have no idea how hard life used to be in this country.

But, with rising federal and consumer debt, one day they will without a doubt look back after the next inevitable financial collapse and realize just how good they ACTUALLY had it.

deertracker

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 2:57pm

What if said individual does not have those "resources" available to them? Everyone does not have the same opportunities or resources. That's really real, cut and dry too. You complain when people get student loans to help themselves and in the same breath you rant about one educating one's self. You can't have it both ways!

Contango

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 2:59pm

Re: "That's almost 15 percent of those aged 16 to 24 who have neither desk nor job,"

The headline is rather misleading.

IMO, the REAL potential socio-economic issue for the future is the seriousness of high black youth unemployment.

Little wonder that many black voters and supporters feel that this Pres. has failed them.

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 3:45pm

deer,

What kids are not able to use the resources of public education?

When did I complain about kids getting school loans? I used student loans and my kids used student loan to further our education. Now, not paying them back will get my dander up.

There is a difference between entitlement and a loan.

deertracker

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 4:47pm

Get real! Everyone knows there is usually a limit on how far a public education by itself can take you. There are exceptions. I'm pretty sure you stated in other posts that you achieved success all by yourself with no help. Oops! A student loan is gov't help just like food stamps. I have no issue with either as long as they are used properly. Don't get on here and act all high and mighty when you and your family both have taken advantage of gov't help. BTW, I too used a student loan and it is paid in full.

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 3:43pm

double post

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 4:16pm

There should be no complaining about summer job around Sandusky. Cedar Point hired hundreds of students from overseas to fill vacancies that were available to area youth and adults.

These jobs taught responsibility, ethics, morals along with developing a self worth. Great values for young men and women.

Why does Cedar Point have to hire from overseas?

deertracker

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 4:50pm

I refused to allow my kids to work at CP. They really take advantage of the help. Kids don't want to work there but most do want to work!

The Big Dog's back

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 6:04pm

CP is not the same CP of 30 to 40 years ago.

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 5:01pm

deer,

How do they take advantage of kids?

It's the same old whine from you. Kids and adults only need to work perfect jobs. I had many jobs I didn't like but they were jobs and received compensation for my work.

That work experience allowed me to obtain other better paying jobs.

Are you and your kids holding out for a nuclear physicist position? Until then you will enjoy your government supplied entitlement. Kinda figured.

PS, my student loan was through a bank. Sorry to burst your bubble.

deertracker

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 12:52pm

They try to cheat kids out of their year end earned bonuses! All student loans are from banks!

Contango

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 1:22pm

Re: "All student loans are from banks!"

NOPE.

Pres. Obama oversaw the govt. takeover the student loan industry.

"Finalizing two major pieces of his agenda, President Barack Obama on Tuesday sealed his health care overhaul and made the government the primary lender to students by cutting banks out of the process."

Deer understand he is old & bitter. We know there were an abundance of decent jobs in the 60's. History proves it.

donutshopguy

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 9:23pm

Sorry, not old and bitter. We just come from different family philosophy. I had to work for everything. That's how I was taught by my parents. I passed the same philosophy on to my children. I help people who want to help themselves. I don't respect or help people who feel entitled to a similar lifestyle without putting forth some effort.

There are an abundance of jobs available now. But, only to those who get educated and put forth the effort. Those with no high school degree or only a high school degree are left in the dust of a bygone era. The technology revolution is upon us. Those waiting for those unskilled labor jobs to come back will continue to wait and complain.

KURTje

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 4:17am

Donut another person was being mentioned not you. However since you commented ponder this. Using your premise of "tech" jobs for the future what does that leave to those that cannot achieve high scores? Are stating that their life will be in shambles? See my parents knew a guy that was hard working & honest. We just was slow. Yet through his diligence he made a decent living back then. Today he'd qualify for a low pay dead end job. Again - it is your age group that had the better way. Be glad you aren't entering the job arena today. You missed the point.

grumpy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 8:47am

Yes as someone else who you claim gre up in good times. I "came of age" in the 70's when Carter was President, had a super majority of Dims in the Senate, a majority in the House, double digit, inflation, double digit unemployment, double digit interest rates. He11 mortgage rates were topping 18%. That was so much better than what we see today. (Last line sarcasm)

The difference was Carter was voted out and Reagan was voted in. He convinced the Congress to cut everyones taxes, and after a little over a year unemployment was below that of today, interest rates dropped, inflation dropped, and we were well on the way to recovery with jobs and better times.

The difference is the policies passed by the President and Congress passed to deal with the economic downfall. Reagan fixed his, Obama has extended his.

Economic slow downs have happened for many people... the current one is not the only one that ever happened. In the 70's we voted out the problem... we re-elected those who extended it this time.

donutshopguy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 8:58am

kURTje,

The world continues to evolve. This country continues to evolve. This area continues to evolve.

You either change or fall behind. You want to live in the "good old days". How about we return to horses as a mean of transportation. Those were better days before the industrial revolution.

Today we are in a technology revolution. I have to stay updated to keep in the job arena that you mention.

If kids don't pursue additional education beyond high school most will work dead end jobs for their remaining life.

It's their choice. It's their responsibility. It's their life. Take ownership and stop waiting for someone else to solve your problems.

It's a tough concept. Right?

KURTje

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 10:24am

Both of you got your stuff wrong. Here is why. Check on public assistance. The lion's share goes to fast food workers, Wal-mart is not too far behind. Translation. Most people working their because of low job options. America has fallen behind in living standards. Talk to your children or their friends. Compare how much you made at their age. Look what your $$ would purchase also. (Also your purchases were better quality by & large) As a metrology individual once said to an engineer, "Figures don't lie - but liars figure."

KURTje

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 10:25am

there

donutshopguy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 10:53am

"America has fallen behind in living standards"

Fallen behind who? Name the country.

What other country pays for you food, housing, utilities, clothing, transportation and cell phone ?

More continual whining from those who won't put for the effort to educate themselves and work to make their life better.

donutshopguy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 10:53am

"America has fallen behind in living standards"

Fallen behind who? Name the country.

What other country pays for you food, housing, utilities, clothing, transportation and cell phone ?

More continual whining from those who won't put for the effort to educate themselves and work to make their life better.

Contango

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 11:58am

Loss of purchasing power a problem for some?

Look no further than the Fed Resve's cheap money and easy credit policies that are destroying savings and have been gradually destroying the value of the USD.

Also the Govt. WANTS a "cheap dollar" in order to help fuel the export market.

Only those in the Mkt. and investing in riskier assets like stocks are tending to keep up.

The Rule of 72: Divide the number 72 by an interest rate.

At the Fed's 2% inflation target, one's savings at 0% rate of interest are worthless in 36 yrs.

And if you don't keep up with inflation, one's take home pay eventually becomes TOAST because you're losing buying power at a rate of 2% each and every yr.

The Political Ruling Class is scr*wing the working class, yet the whining morons continue to vote for 'em because they promise them "cash and prizes."

donutshopguy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 10:55am

Sorry for the double post. Still trying to understand this new technology.

grumpy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 11:58am

"there"

This time around we didn't/don't have double digit inflation, in fact almost no inflation... if you believe how the gov't now counts inflation, Inerest rates are minimal compared to what it was, and mortgages are still under 5% and was under 4% for years. What you have shown is the economic downturns are different from each other... gee I guess that 40 years difference might show some differences. This down turn is different from the last one which was different from the one before, which was different from the one before.... Keep tryin to claim yours is worse... I guess we can conclude that the leadership shown is worse also and the foolishness of those who re-elected a leader who proved he can't fix it after 4 years to someone who fixed it after a year or so... and rewarded him with what can actually called a landslide re-election, 49 states and 525 to 13 electoral votes.

there

ROFLMFAO

You can't compare times 40 years apart and expect much hasn't changed after 4 decades. You have to live in the present and not try you dmandest to drag in the past and expect to compare it to the present. Life doesn't work that way. Try to live in the present and prepare for the future, not whine about how someone else might have had an easier time in their life. I could claim that those born between 45 and 55, or born between 65 and 75, had it easier, but they didn't... except they did... or maybe not... it would depend on the individual... much like it always does.

There...again

ROFLMFAO... again!

Contango

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 12:12pm

Re: "You can't compare times 40 years apart and expect much hasn't changed after 4 decades."

What took a $1.00 to buy in 1973 now takes $5.27.

Or, another way to look at it is: Your 1973 $1.00 now has the purchasing power of 19¢.

If this "troubles" anyone blame the Fed Resv. and the U.S. Govt.

They've created a fiction that inflated wealth is REAL wealth - it ain't.

ANYONE who doesn’t see what the h*ll is goin’ on is either ignorant or dumber than dirt.

grumpy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 1:57pm

"What took a $1.00 to buy in 1973 now takes $5.27.

Or, another way to look at it is: Your 1973 $1.00 now has the purchasing power of 19¢."

This is why I don't ask my kids or their friends about how this economy is compared to what it was then. They weren't born yet so can't speak to what it was then. Besides my kids would do what Contango just did... get some numbers that are able to be compared. How can someone, who didn't live through it have a first hand account of what it was like back then? They can't and must use numbers to show what it was like compared to now. What Contange showed (the buying power of a dollar then compared to now), what I showed unemployment (even though it was counted different now compared to then, you can look that up on your own). Interest rates, including mortgages (up to 18%+), credit card rates (which some went to 25% and even over that under Carter).

None of which were this high under Bush, but were well on their way and Obama has made a jobless recovery, just look at the number of people EMPLOYED, not unemployed. Their are more part time workers, underemployed, people on SS disability and folks who have given up and are on Welfare, foodstamps which is higher now than for decades. Is it a question of leadership? Obama had a supermajority in the Senate for his first two years, then a solid majority after, a majority in the house for his first two years and could pass whatever he wanted with no need for any repube voting for his policies... that is how we got Obamacare and the so-called stimulus... and little else. The economy didn't improve and he lost the super majority in the Senate and lost the House. If it isn't a lack of leadership, what else is it? Because he can't get his point across to 1/2 of the Congress? Clinton and Reagan both did, those were leaders who knew how to deal with people, Obama? Not so much, in fact not at all. As told the repubes in Congress in 2009, there are consequences to losing elections. He found out the reason not to rub peoples faces in it after the 2010 election, as did Clinton in 94, Clinton learned how to deal with it after a short time... Obama?... not so much. Reagan and Clinton got things done... Obama?... not so much.

History, results and facts.

Contango

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 2:21pm

Regarding the "wealth effect":

Remember when the "fiction" was that housing prices would NEVER go down?

The housing crisis was exhibit "A" in regards to the devastative effects of deflation.

This is why the Fed. Resv. continues to practice QE and ZIRP and hold a 2% inflation target - to fight against the ever present danger of deflation, i.e. the 1930s.

IMO, eventually they will lose the battle.

Interest rates WILL rise. The occurrence of which is largely guesswork.

-----------------------

BTW: The govt. "technically" defaulted on it's debt in 1933, when FDR confiscated gold and exchanged it for Fed. Resv. notes.

He did not want gold competing for value with the USD.

In today's dollars, the melt down value of a pre-1964 silver dime is about $2.50.

The value of a 2013 copper sandwich dime is 10¢.

Dr. Information

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 1:25pm

kurt still thinks that a high school education will land you a good paying job with ease. Attention alert, times have vastly changed. You have to have a degree in something that is needed in this nation. To many college kids taking cup cake classes and graduating with some cup cake degree and when they graduate, they can't find a job. If college isn't your cup of tea, then one better invest in a demanding tech job.

If you are graduating HS and plan on making McDonalds your life time goal, then you have nobody to blame but yourself.

Nemesis

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 12:33pm

"kurt still thinks that a high school education will land you a good paying job with ease."

Well....... if you're good enough at hitting a ball with a stick, or throwing a bigger ball through a hoop, or you can play a guitar and look good. Then there's always the strip clubs and the adult film industry.

KURTje

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 1:37pm

No Dr. a. You've missed the issue. So you played ball..big whoop.To those that haven't been out of this county I urge you to read some or travel. Norway,Sweden,France, Germany, & others work to live. If you'd been out a bit you'd understand. Again nitpick small things while avoiding real problems.

grumpy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 2:14pm

". Norway,Sweden,France, Germany, & others work to live. If you'd been out a bit you'd understand."

All of which have trade schools where the students that don't go to college learn a trade and apply trade in their jobs. Very few manufacturing jobs don't require such trade school degrees there.
Europe has more robots used than in the US. If you don't have training or a skill you don't work at a good job, even more so than in the US.

Look at the unemployment rates, pay attention to the rate for those under 25.

Another fallacy: The aforementioned countries are largely ethnically and culturally homogenous - the U.S. is NOT.

Contango

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 4:18pm

Re: "France"

And if one had been paying attention, one would see that it is imploding from its suffocating socio-economic straightjacket policies.

Dear Leader has been directing us toward a socialist model which in practicality is FAILING and will always FAIL.

donutshopguy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 4:10pm

Improving yourself takes effort. Whether it be additional education or skill training it takes personal responsibility to make that change.

It's not the government's responsibility. It's not the community's responsibility. It's your responsibility.

You can blame almost anyone or any situation for a lack of initiative to improve yourself. It takes real effort to rise above those excuses and exceed in your life.

Do you have what it takes?

KURTje

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 4:54pm

Well grump you pay me. Thanxs. I'm probably set, 20 & out. Again please pay more attention & listen to people that are the same age as your children, they could educate you on current situations.

grumpy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 5:11pm

Give us some numbers to compare, give us someone who has first hand knowledge about how things were then compared to now. If you wish to contrast and compare different times you need one or the other. You don't supply either. You wish to take first hand accounts from one time and compare it to what you didn't experience and expect someone to believe your one sided view as knowledgeable? You don't give apples to apples comparrisons, you want to speak about how you feel. Sorry I don't really care that you feel you have it so bad compared to everyone before you. Give us numbers or examples, neither of which you have done. Then you whine that we don't believe you.

My kids wouldn't agree with you that I don't know what is happening currently.I live in the present and prepare for the future. You seem to whine about what others have lived in the past and whine about the present, and how everyone before had it easier.

KURTje

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 7:00pm

No whine just truth. As previous statements go my future should be okay. But down the road people lost their jobs after decades of hard work. They are over 50. Many more like them is this zone also.(You probably wouldn't want to tell them what you are telling me) Consideration, being decent, that should never change. Sadly it has. From older folks, older relatives & numerous travels my own experiences bear this out. "All our lives we sweat & save - building for a shallow grave."/The Soft Parade/The Doors. Have a great evening grump got some welding to do.

grumpy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 9:00pm

"No whine just truth"

Minus facts numbers, or anything to back up your opinion. Sorry it is just one person whining listen to me, my opinion means something!!!!! It is right dmanit, because I feel that way makes it truth.

Sorry it doesn't work that way in the real world, you have to have facts for it to be considered truth. When you can't find anything to back up your words... but then we don't expect you to show anything to back you up.

As for my grave... if any of my organs are viable they will be donated, and what's left goes to a medical clooege for whatever they wish to do to what's left... I really don't much care ... if it helps others learn.

Dr. Information

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 8:58am

agree grumpy. He's just another poster who provides opinion as facts.

grumpy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 8:41pm

I suggest that you give some to charities, as I have done over the decades. It is much more effiecient than what gov't does, and you can pick those who you wish to give to. Here is a website that tell you how much each charity spends outide of giving to the people receiving the help. I have used it for years, it is the best one I have found.

That is if you want to do something more than just whine about what others do or don't do... especially when you don't have any idea what they do, what they have done,... or even who they are.

grumpy

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 9:00pm

I suggest that you give some to charities, as I have done over the decades. It is much more effiecient than what gov't does, and you can pick those who you wish to give to. Here is a website that tell you how much each charity spends outide of giving to the people receiving the help. I have used it for years, it is the best one I have found.

That is if you want to do something more than just whine about what others do or don't do... especially when you don't have any idea what they do, what they have done,... or even who they are.

KURTje

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 8:50am

Ostrich.

grumpy

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 12:57pm

"Ostrich."

You mean like someone who spouts what is happening in some European countries (the ones he mentioned) and when shown facts about what is really happening there sticks his head in the ground and refuses to refute or acknowledge what is happening there?

And you wonder why we don't take your word for what you claim to "know".

Truth or Dare

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 9:49am

Sure, C.P. is a great place to work, as long as you're not involved in any extra-curricular activities at school. Since when can you tell your coach you won't be at football practice, can't make the baseball game because you're scheduled to work? C.P. will tell you they're willing to work around your sports schedule, or whatever it may be, but they won't and don't. By the way, there is a home just 3 doors down from me that over the last few years has rented through the Summer to at least a dozen young foreign workers, from different countries. It's also a Metro Home. I have to wonder who is making out there?

KURTje

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 1:59pm

Grump you probably liked Reagan's support of General Zia too. (look what a frickin mess that made) Do not you ever look around and think independently? Always got to have a link? At your age don't you have any experiences or did you pretty reside in 1county most of your life?

grumpy

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 3:45pm

Yep I have independent opinions. But that is what they are OPINIONS, not truth, not facts, those are different and can be proved outside my personal experience. That is why the words are different. If I mean facts I don't confuse that with opinion, which is what I "think independently". Facts are different from opinions. It is always good to know the difference between the two. Try it sometime. It is really nice when your opinion can be backed by facts... that makes it truth... no guesses or hope. Words have meaning, and when the way we communicate here is all written words, it is best to use the correct ones. I try not to push my opinions as facts, which is why I tend to use links to back up what I say. I learned, over time, that my opinions aren't always facts. But when I can back them up, they are.

He11 reagan sucked on some things. No politician does everything right... or wrong... even Carter did s couple thigs right, but he really tanked the economy and sucked on foregn policy... especially in the ME. Reagn did much better in his first term. Clinton did much better in his second. Reagan sucked on what he did on mental health issues but congress did no better at the time. It rarely is the fault of noe person.